The role of Universities of Applied Sciences in technology transfer: the case of Germany

Abstract

German higher education institutions fulfill three missions: the education of students and academic staff, research, and the so-called "third mission", which refers to the transfer and impact of university outputs to the economy as well as society. In order to successfully fulfill these tasks, the German higher education system is based on two main pillars: public universities, which are first and foremost responsible for basic research and a more theoretical education, and "Universities of Applied Sciences", focusing on a practical education and application-oriented research. In the past, the prevailing opinion was that especially public universities play an important role when it comes to knowledge spillovers and technology transfer. Research has also been focused on the importance of public universities for regional as well as national prosperity. In this chapter, we focus on the role of Universities of Applied Sciences for technology transfer, especially in rural areas where many small und medium-sized enterprises are located. As these companies are the backbone of the German economy, specialized in the high-tech manufacturing and engineering services as well as production, it is important to understand how cooperation with higher education institutions can be successfully put on its feet. Furthermore, a comparison with other European countries will provide insights on the organization and mission of similar institutions of higher education.